St. Julia's Catholic Church

2006 TCA Tilt-Up Achievement Award - Spiritual Division

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Originally designed to be a load-bearing masonry facility, this building had walls with a shape and height that presented budget and constructability issues. By switching to load-bearing insulated panels, the designers had the freedom they needed to construct this facility.

Presenting many bracing and erection challenges, some panel engineers and product representatives thought the project could not be done. For example, one wall of the bell tower was designed to be sloped, and traditional masonry would not allow this without expensive structural steel backup.

Space was very limited on the site, so all the panels were constructed either on the floor slab or small casting beds. This solution still did not allow for enough space, so panels were stack cast and built in the proper erection sequence.

To create a visual appeal for the facility, heavy architectural reveals were used for shadow, and textured paint was used to resemble a plaster finish.

Engineered wood beams and a tongue-and-groove wood ceiling in the sanctuary create a striking interior.

Stained glass windows add a unique element to the facility.

The bell tower is comprised of panels with one laid on the other to create the appearance that the tower is leaning.

The use of insulated concrete panels allowed the owner to have the look they desired while receiving cost and energy savings.

About the TCA

Founded in 1986, the Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) strives to improve the quality and acceptance of site-cast Tilt-Up construction, a method in which concrete wall panels are cast on-site and tilted into place. Tilt-Up construction is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, combining the advantages of reasonable cost with low maintenance, durability, speed of construction and minimal capital investment. At least 10,000 buildings, enclosing more than 650 million square feet, are constructed each year using this construction method.

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